Writing a Writing a Successful, Successful,

CriticalCritical Book Book ReportReport

Instructor: T. D. MossInstructor: T. D. MossWinter, 2010Winter, 2010

For Bishop Michael Eldon For Bishop Michael Eldon SchoolSchool

What Is a Book What Is a Book Report?Report?

A book report is not a plot summary. A book report is not a plot summary.

A book report is not a copy and pasted A book report is not a copy and pasted overview found online and reformatted.overview found online and reformatted.

A book report is not a parent or tutor’s A book report is not a parent or tutor’s interpretation of a book that you have read. interpretation of a book that you have read.

A A BOOK REPORTBOOK REPORT IS JUST THAT: AN IS JUST THAT: AN INTELLIGENT, WELL-PLANNED REPORT THAT INTELLIGENT, WELL-PLANNED REPORT THAT CRITICALLY DISCUSSES ALL THE IMPORTANT CRITICALLY DISCUSSES ALL THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF A BOOK YOU HAVE READ. ASPECTS OF A BOOK YOU HAVE READ.

What Are the What Are the Important Important Aspects Aspects of a Book?of a Book?

Who is the author? How might the Who is the author? How might the author’s life have affected the content in author’s life have affected the content in the text?the text?

Main Characters and Major Supporting Main Characters and Major Supporting CharactersCharacters

BRIEF Plot Summary including Major BRIEF Plot Summary including Major Settings and Major Conflicts Settings and Major Conflicts

Major Themes: Examinations of the Major Themes: Examinations of the Human Condition (emotions and Human Condition (emotions and reactions)reactions)

Writer’s StyleWriter’s Style

Why Discuss the Why Discuss the Author?Author?

Many authors specialize in a set number of Many authors specialize in a set number of themes that relate directly to them.themes that relate directly to them.

Often times, those authors’ lives give them Often times, those authors’ lives give them special insight into how characters might develop special insight into how characters might develop under the fictional conditions that they create.under the fictional conditions that they create.

For example, an author who experienced For example, an author who experienced domestic abuse might write often about domestic domestic abuse might write often about domestic abuse because he or she can abuse because he or she can skillfully create skillfully create characterizations characterizations that mature in abusive that mature in abusive situations.situations.

A Brief Review of A Brief Review of ThemeTheme

The basic definition of theme is “a central The basic definition of theme is “a central message.”message.”

However, this definition is not specific enough However, this definition is not specific enough for students to understand how to identify for students to understand how to identify theme or how to discuss theme in literature.theme or how to discuss theme in literature.

Sure, the theme of a party may be “the central Sure, the theme of a party may be “the central message” the party planner is trying to message” the party planner is trying to communicate, but the definition goes much communicate, but the definition goes much deeper when it comes to discussing theme in deeper when it comes to discussing theme in texts. texts.

Theme, The Literary Theme, The Literary DefinitionDefinition

Theme is an author’s examination of or Theme is an author’s examination of or commentary on human emotions and reactions.commentary on human emotions and reactions.

In literature, all situations communicate truths In literature, all situations communicate truths about the characters involved, whether they are about the characters involved, whether they are stubborn or not, jealous or not, good or evil, etc.stubborn or not, jealous or not, good or evil, etc.

Characters’ behaviors and feelings then Characters’ behaviors and feelings then ultimately address the many themes of the ultimately address the many themes of the human conditionhuman condition::

-That man (all people) is a fallen creature, -That man (all people) is a fallen creature, subject to mistakes no matter how hard he tries subject to mistakes no matter how hard he tries to be good. to be good.

A List of Common A List of Common Themes…Themes…

Notice how these themes are either human Notice how these themes are either human emotions or human reactions to situations.emotions or human reactions to situations.

-Love-Love -Family Feuding-Family Feuding-Identity (crisis)-Identity (crisis)

-Hate-Hate -Depression-Depression --DegenerationDegeneration

-Jealousy-Jealousy -Poverty-Poverty -Death-Death

-Fear-Fear-Financial Stress-Financial Stress -Disappointment -Disappointment

A Final Note on ThemeA Final Note on Theme

Though a text may address many themes Though a text may address many themes through character development, the two to through character development, the two to five themes most often examined are often five themes most often examined are often the MAIN or MAJOR THEMES.the MAIN or MAJOR THEMES.

Major themes are also often examined or Major themes are also often examined or expressed through the experiences of many expressed through the experiences of many characters in the same text, further characters in the same text, further emphasizing that those are the MAJOR emphasizing that those are the MAJOR themes. themes.

Why Discuss the Writer’s Why Discuss the Writer’s Style?Style?

Just as authors specialize in a number of themes, Just as authors specialize in a number of themes, they can also be identified by their style choices, they can also be identified by their style choices, including:including:- How they use dialogueHow they use dialogue- Presence or absence of elevated vocabularyPresence or absence of elevated vocabulary- Presence or absence of dialect usePresence or absence of dialect use- Presence or absence of long descriptive paragraphsPresence or absence of long descriptive paragraphs- Presence or absence of complicated sentence Presence or absence of complicated sentence

structurestructure- Presence or absence of actual factsPresence or absence of actual facts

And much, much more!!!And much, much more!!!

An Example of Identifying An Example of Identifying an Author by Stylean Author by Style

Toni Morrison is a Toni Morrison is a leading fictional voice leading fictional voice on on African-American families.African-American families.

- Many of her texts examine the theme of family - Many of her texts examine the theme of family in African-American communities.in African-American communities.

-Many of her texts use African-American dialect.-Many of her texts use African-American dialect.

-Many of her texts have African-American lead -Many of her texts have African-American lead characters.characters.

READERS TRUST THAT TONI MORRISON’S READERS TRUST THAT TONI MORRISON’S DEPICTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WILL BE DEPICTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WILL BE CLOSE TO THE TRUTH. That’s what makes her a CLOSE TO THE TRUTH. That’s what makes her a leading voice in fiction.leading voice in fiction.

An Example of Identifying An Example of Identifying an Author by Stylean Author by Style

John Steinbeck is an John Steinbeck is an American ImagistAmerican Imagist..

-His biographies tell us that he lived in -His biographies tell us that he lived in settings where people farmed and were settings where people farmed and were indentured servants. Accordingly, many of his indentured servants. Accordingly, many of his texts use that setting.texts use that setting.

-He uses long paragraphs of description to -He uses long paragraphs of description to give readers a real feel of his setting and give readers a real feel of his setting and atmosphere. That is what makes him imagist.atmosphere. That is what makes him imagist.

-Many of his texts share these characteristics; -Many of his texts share these characteristics; they are a part of his writing style. they are a part of his writing style.

The The Critical Critical AspectsAspects

Besides just discussing the book, book Besides just discussing the book, book reports give students an opportunity to reports give students an opportunity to critically discuss the book.critically discuss the book.

A critical look is a close, specific, particular A critical look is a close, specific, particular look. look.

To be critical also means to judge or assign To be critical also means to judge or assign a value to something. a value to something.

In book reports, you must both look closely In book reports, you must both look closely at the book and assign a judgment: Is the at the book and assign a judgment: Is the book any good? Why or why not? book any good? Why or why not?

The Critical Aspects The Critical Aspects RequiredRequired

There are many critical aspects that could be There are many critical aspects that could be discussed, but the following are required in my discussed, but the following are required in my book reports:book reports:

-Make Connections: Is this book similar to or -Make Connections: Is this book similar to or different from other books you’ve read? How?different from other books you’ve read? How?

-Was the ending expected? Ironic? A Cliffhanger? -Was the ending expected? Ironic? A Cliffhanger?

-Have you learned anything new from reading -Have you learned anything new from reading this text?this text?

-Would you recommend this text to anyone else? -Would you recommend this text to anyone else? If so, who? Why? If not, why? If so, who? Why? If not, why?

The Book Report The Book Report FormatFormat

The first format for book reports I assign is The first format for book reports I assign is the Essay Formatthe Essay Format because: because:

-It requires that students demonstrate the -It requires that students demonstrate the ability to discuss (not just list) information.ability to discuss (not just list) information.

-It requires pre-planning and coherence, and -It requires pre-planning and coherence, and cannot be written in one sitting or without cannot be written in one sitting or without thorough reading.thorough reading.

-It prepares students for producing quality -It prepares students for producing quality book reports in other formats. book reports in other formats.

Special Note:Special Note:

I will require book reports in the essay format I will require book reports in the essay format until a student demonstrates MASTERY in this until a student demonstrates MASTERY in this format.format.

Mastery in my classroom is 80% and above, Mastery in my classroom is 80% and above, which would tell me that the student could which would tell me that the student could produce a similar product again without any re-produce a similar product again without any re-teaching.teaching.

When a student makes an “A” on a book report When a student makes an “A” on a book report in my class, he or she is capable of teaching the in my class, he or she is capable of teaching the skill (critical book analysis) to another student. skill (critical book analysis) to another student.

For Your Benefit:For Your Benefit:

Access the link “Sample Book Report: Sophie Access the link “Sample Book Report: Sophie Kinsella’s Kinsella’s Can You Keep a SecretCan You Keep a Secret?”?”

This link will take you to an actual book This link will take you to an actual book report (that I personally wrote). report (that I personally wrote).

Pay close attention to how the report is Pay close attention to how the report is formatted, how I cite sources, and how I formatted, how I cite sources, and how I analyze the book. analyze the book.

I will expect all students to be able to turn in I will expect all students to be able to turn in similar products for their books. similar products for their books.